Santana Moss made his proper introduction to Washington with two touchdowns and two hugs, one each for Chief Zee and Clinton Portis.

Moss caught four passes for 96 yards against the Bears in his first game as a Redskin, but the receiver said earlier he considers a Week 2 performance at Dallas in 2005 his debut.

In the “Monday Night Miracle,” Moss caught two touchdowns in the final five minutes as the Redskins beat the Cowboys, 14-13.

“It’s always somebody, somewhere, anywhere I go, that has that memory. It’s still in their head, and they always bring it up to me. So it’s a pleasrue to be on the other side of that,” Moss told Chris Paul on Redskins Late Night.

“That really kind of started my career off here, and all I do is think back about that night, because that night kind of changed everything about who I’ve become to be a Redskin now.”

Watch Moss relive that memory and talk about how his size stoked a competitive fire in the second edition of, “Best of Redskins Late Night.”

2. Clinton Portis tumbles in for on a 1-yard touchdown on Sept. 23, 2007 in Landover, Md.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

3. Chris Cooley returns the ball to the official on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007 in Landover, Md.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

4. Sammy Baugh flings a pass during a 49-14 rout of the New York Giants on Dec. 6, 1937 in New York. Baugh completed 11 passes for 135 yards and ran his total completions for the regular season to 81, a new national league record. (AP Photo)

5. Russ Grimm blocks Lawrence Taylor in a Hall-of-Fame matchup on October 28, 1984 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)

Larry Centers scored the winning touchdown in overtime against the 49ers in 1999 (AP)

The journeyman fullback won it, crossing the goal line on a 33-yard touchdown catch in overtime that delivered the Redskins their first NFC East championship in eight years.

In 1999, Dan Snyder’s first year as the owner in Washington, Larry Centers caught a ball from Brad Johnson that capped off a 26-20 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

In a series unbalanced in San Francisco’s favor, Centers’ division clinching touchdown is one of the sweetest moments. The Redskins had not defeated the 49ers for 13 years before that moment.

Brad Johnson put forth a performance indicative of his Pro Bowl selection that year, passing for 471 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Westbrook caught seven passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, and Skip Hicks rushed for 48 yards on 13 carries.

Since that overtime victory, the Redskins are 2-3 against San Francisco. The 49ers lead the all-time series, 18-10-1, and won three of four postseason matchups. Washington defeated San Francisco int he 1983 NFC Championship game, 24-21.

The franchises first met in 1952, but Washington didn’t defeat San Francisco until Nov. 13, 1955, when Bert Zagers’ 12-yard rushing touchdown was the only score of the game.

For two years straight, Clinton Portis gave the 49ers fits. In a 26-16 win at San Francisco on Dec. 18, 2004, Portis logged 35 carries for 110 yards. Jeff Chandler hit four field goals, and Antonio Pierce returned an interception 78 yards to the house. Sean Taylor, Walt Harris and Ron Warner also intercepted Ken Dorsey in the contest.

(AP)

The following year, Portis again topped 100 yards rushing. Three of his 19 carries went for touchdowns, and the Redskins blew out San Francisco, 52-17. Mark Brunell went 13-for-20 with 252 yards and three touchdowns.

On Nov. 17, 1986, the Redskins allowed Joe Montana to throw for 441 yards but picked off the legendary quarterback three times in a 14-6 victory. Jerry Rice racked up 204 yards receiving, but Darrell Green kept him out of the end zone.

While baseball has long been considered the American Pastime, football has made the full-fledged transformation into America’s Game.

As the game has grown in popularity, millions have flocked to get a glimpse of games from Thursdays through Mondays.

Need proof?

How about the Redskins-Cowboys Week 17 do-or-die game that drew record numbers from the Sunday Night Football slot, the league has a network dedicated exclusively to league content 24/7, 365, and one of the greatest video game franchises that has transitioned from generation to generation of video game consoles as evidence of the game’s rise.

That’s right folks, the timeless gaming classic named after one of the greatest football minds in history, Madden, has captured countless hours of gaming fun and even the occasional frustration from living rooms across the globe.

No vote would be complete in the month of March without a bracket, and with 25 years of players to choose from to be on the cover, there are 64 players that could receive the prestigious honor.

Find out which Redskins players could grace the cover of Madden 25 here:

The bracket has been broken down into two different eras, “old school” and “new school” as the Redskins have a representative for each era.

First up representing the Washington Redskins from the University of Miami, two-time Pro Bowler and one of the most beloved players of all-time, running back Clinton Portis.

Portis is a 12th seed and will be matched up again a fellow former Pro Bowl running back, Indianapolis Colts/St. Louis Rams great Marshall Faulk.

Faulk burst onto the season as a rookie in 1994 to the tune of 1,282 yards, 4.1 yards per carry, and 14 touchdowns. It was considered one of the greatest performances on the ground in league history by a rookie, however, Portis’s debut campaign seven years later was one for the record books.

Portis didn’t find himself in the Broncos starting lineup, under then head coach Mike Shanahan, until Week 5 and thrived under his expanded role.

He would muster an incredible 1,508 yards in his rookie season to an average on 5.5 yards per carry and 15 touchdowns along with an additional 364 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns; putting opponents on notice that he was going to be a lethal threat for years to come.

In 2004, Portis traded in his Bronco blue jersey for a better looking Burgundy and Gold outfit. It’s safe to say the change of scenery had no effect on Portis, as on his first ever carry for the Redskins he torched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 64 yard touchdown and would finish the season with over 1,300 yards on the ground.

In seven seasons in the DMV, Portis rushed for 6,824 yards and 46 touchdowns in only 84 games.

(Photo from Game Informer)

For his career, Faulk had 12,279 yards and 100 touchdowns to Portis’s 9,923 yards and 75 touchdowns. While those numbers tilt in favor of Faulk, you do need to factor in the number of games played by each. Faulk appeared in 176 career games while Portis had only 113 games in the NFL.

If Portis had played the same number of games as Faulk, we are certain that he would have passed Faulk’s 100 touchdowns and join him along with seven other men including former Redskins John Riggins and Shaun Alexander in the exclusive club.

In the “new school” portion of the bracket, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is a number one seed going against fellow 2012 first-round selection Ryan Tannehill.

While we could spent the next few paragraphs highlighting Griffin III’s remarkable transition to the NFL, instead, just watch this video above as an endorsement for number 10’s campaign.

While Tannehill was phenomenal in his new home in Florida, he did not lead his team to the playoffs, win AP Rookie of the Year, or lead the league in jersey sales.

Just sayin’.

Griffin also has some experience being on the cover of a game. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner graced the cover of NCAA Football 13 in his Baylor digs. I wonder if Portis and Griffin III could be on the cover together?

Get Your Bye Weekend Started Off With Harvey, Mitchell and Portis

Washington Redskins alumni Ken Harvey, Brian Mitchell and Clinton Portis — who were selected to a combined nine Pro Bowls — will be making appearances Saturday at three newly-remodeled Washington, D.C.- area Best Buy stores. So pick your alumni and find out which store they’ll be at.

The events are the perfect way to get your weekend off on the right foot while the Redskins are away for their Bye Week. The participating Best Buy stores will be serving a free breakfast and the first 300 fans receive a gift bag and could win a gift card between $10 and $1,000.

Here are the details of Saturday’s appearances by Harvey, Mitchell and Portis:

Arrive early:

– Enjoy breakfast fare before the doors open starting at 8:30 a.m.
– The first 300 customers will receive a gift bag with a mystery gift card valued between $10 and $1,000 (must be 18 years or older) when doors open at 10 a.m.
– Best Buy grand re-opening ceremony begins with a ribbon cutting at 9:45 a.m.
– Enter for a chance to win two prizes every hour
– Meet and take a photo with Redskins alumni at these three Best Buy locations:

Linebacker Ken Harvey — Saturday, Nov. 10; Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Best Buy
20914 Frederick Road
Germantown, MD 20876

About Harvey:Signed by the Redskins as a free agent in March 1994, linebacker Ken Harvey became the first Redskins player to lead the NFC in sacks in 1994 (tied with Minnesota’s John Randle with 13.5). Harvey finished his career with 89 sacks and was named to four consecutive Pro Bowls (1994-97).

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Running back Brian Mitchell — Saturday, Nov. 10; Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Best Buy
45575 Dulles Eastern Plaza Suite 188
Sterling, VA 20165

About Mitchell:One of the greatest return men in NFL history, Brian Mitchell holds record for most combined yards in Redskins’ history, while also holding the record for most punts returned for touchdowns as a Redskin with seven. A 1995 Pro Bowl selection, Mitchell became the NFL record holder with 11,735 kickoff return yards and 4,278 punt return yards. The first time he touched the ball as a pro, Mitchell returned the opening kickoff of preseason 92 yards for a touchdown against Atlanta.

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Running back Clinton Portis — Saturday, Nov. 10; Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Best Buy
3401 Jefferson Davis Highway
Alexandria, VA 22305

About Portis:Clinton Portis spent seven years of his nine-year NFL career in Washington from 2004-10, compiling 6,824 rushing yards with the Redskins, the second-most in team history. Portis is responsible for the two-most prolific rushing seasons in team history, posting a franchise-record 1,516 rushing yards during the 2005 season and putting together a 1,487-yard season in 2008.

Clinton Portis, the Redskins great running back who announced his retirement from football on Thursday, caught up with the Redskins Blog during the first and second quarters of today’s preseason matchup between the Redskins and the Indianapolis Colts.

We just happened to have good timing when talking with Portis — it was smack dab in the middle of the Redskins’ first touchdown drive of the game.

That touchdown, by the way, was scored by rookie running back Alfred Morris, who grew up idolizing Portis, the Redskins’ second-leading rusher in franchise history who on Friday was elected one of the 80 Greatest Players in team history.

Here’s the interview with Portis, who talks about the Robert Griffin III-Andrew Luck hype, the Redskins’ defense, his memories of playing at FedExField, his attitude when it came to being a great blocking back and much more:

Washington Redskins great running back Clinton Portis just moments ago announced his retirement from football and from the Redskins in a ceremony at the team’s Ashburn, Va., facility.

For seven seasons, Portis gave the Redskins fans the gift of playing the hardest football imaginable — he was a fearless runner and pass blocker who put fear in opposing linebackers in more ways than one.

The Redskins today gave Portis a gift in exchange for all that hard work: an awesome painting depicting the running back carrying the ball against the New York Giants.

Artist LeRoy Neiman painted this beautiful piece of art and titled it “Washington Redskins In FedExField.” It was completed in October, 2005.

Redskins’ public relations staffers Angela Alfano and Dave Lankster are seen in the photos handling the photo and getting it ready for the unveiling.

Today’s the big day for Redskins great running back Clinton Portis, who will announce his retirement this afternoon in a ceremony at Redskins Park.

The Redskins Blog and Redskins.com will, of course, be all over it, but there’s a couple places you can go for up-to-the-minute coverage before, during and after today’s festivities.

- Follow the Redskins’ Twitter account for some photos and live commentary from Portis’s visit.
– And follow the Redskins’ Instagram account (@Redskins) for a majority of the exclusive photos from today’s announcement.

The press conference is set for 2:30 p.m. at Redskins Park.

I’d also suggest following us on Twitter and Facebook for a chance at some very awesome prizes…

Even if he didn’t have an outstanding seven-year career with the Washington Redskins, running back Clinton Portis still would’ve been remembered as one of the most colorful characters to grace the burgundy and gold.

Portis — who will announce his retirement from football in a ceremony Thursday at Redskins Park — will leave the game as the Redskins’ No. 2 all-time rusher, trailing only the great John Riggins.

But Portis, a former University of Miami star who was acquired by the Redskins via trade with the Denver Broncos in 2002, was also very well-known for breaking out a variety of alter egos during his encounters with the local and national media.

Here’s an awesome slideshow of just a few of those characters, followed by a couple videos of Portis’s shenanigans:

The Washington Redskins today said great running back Clinton Portis will announce his retirement in a press conference at Redskins Park on Thursday.

Portis played for the Redskins from 2004 through 2010 and ended his career in Washington as the franchise’s second-leading rusher of all-time (6,824 yards), and his 1,516 yards gained in the 2005 season is a Redskins’ single-season record.

Check out the photo gallery below (thanks to the Associated Press) of Portis’s great performances through the years in a Redskins uniform.

Congratulations to Clinton on a tremendous career, and this assuredly won’t be the last Clinton Portis news on the Redskins Blog this week. Stay tuned.